Safety release mechanism for wringers



March 1, 1932. 5. H. JANTZ 1,847,187

SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR WRINGERS Filed Sept. 27,- 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 1, 1932. H JANTZ 1,847,187

- SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR WRINGERS Fild Sept. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES GUSTAVE H. JANTZ, OF WYOMING, OHIO SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR- WRINGERS Application filed September 27, 1929. Serial No. 395,600.

It is the object of my invention to provide novel quick releasing mechanism whereby pressure between the rolls is instantly reeased to avoid accident or injury to the user, or when it is desirable for any other reason to instantly relieve or release pressure be-' lease of pressure between the wringer rolls.

It is the object of my invention. further to provide novel latching means for normally holding the top-bar in operative position and readily releasing the same, and to provide novel latching means arranged for release by manual manipulation of releasing means at the end of the machine and releasing mechanism at the top-bar selectively employable for releasing pressure between the Wringer rolls.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a Wrtical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional detail view of the same, taken on the same section line.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the hanging of the upper roll, taken in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of my improved device, taken in the plane of the irregular line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modification of my improved device, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8, and partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail view of the same, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8.

My invention is an additional species of the invention shown, described and claimed in my copending application for patent on improvement in safety release mechanism for wringers, filed in the United States Patent Oifice September 30, 1929, as Serial No. 3%,018.

The frame of the machine comprises end posts 11, 12, which are preferably hollow and substantially square in cross-section for providing upright channels 13, 14, in said posts. A lower connecting bar has its respective ends ri idly secured to the lower ends of the respective posts. These parts may be of metal and may be formed up out of sheet metal.

Lower bearing blocks 17 are suitably supported in the upright channels of the end- :osts and form stationarily positioned bearings for the respective ends of a shaft 18 of the lower roll 19. This shaft has a formation 20 at one end thereof with which a suitable driving mechanism, which may be manual or power, has suitable connection for rotating the lower roll.

The upper roll 21 has a shaft 22, the respec- P tivc end journals of which are received in bearing holes of bearing blocks 23 received in the upright channels of the end posts. The rolls are shown provided with traction sections 24 for aiding in rotating the upper roll by means of the driven lower roll.

The upper bearings are provided with bails 28 received over the respective ends of a leaf-spring 29. These bails may be of wire and have depending portions 30, the lower 3 ends of which have inturned pivoting ends 31 received in apertures in the inner walls of grooves 32 at the respective ends of said bearings.

The spring is shown somewhat bowed, having a higher middle portion and lower end portions. The end portions of the spring rest on the upper faces of the upper bearings and are provided with holding means, for instance grooves 83, for receiving the upper stretches of the bails 28.

The frame of the machine comprises a topbar 35 which is shown of inverted channel form having a top wall 36, side walls 37 and end walls 38, 39, forming an elongated downthereto. A rocker-sleeve 45 is journaled in the bearing 41. The lower end of this rocker-sleeve is formed as a cam 46, provided with a cam-lobe 47, there being preferably a pair of these cam-lobes. The upper end of the sleevehas handle-arms 51 extending therefrom preferably normally lengthwise of the top-bar. There may be one or a pair of these handle-arms. The handle-arm is provided with a hub 52 which is secured to the sleeve, as by a pin 53, so as to rotate the sleeve therewith.

' A screw-rod 55 has threaded connection in a threaded portion 56 of the bore of the sleeve, the lower end of the screw-rod preferably having journal connection in a bearing portion 57 of said sleeve.

The lower end of the screw-rod 55 is shown of ball form, as at 58, received in the socket of a socket-piece 59, the wall of the socket being pressed about the ball-portion of the rod for forming swivelconnection therewith. The socket-piece is part of a saddle 60 about the middle portion of the spring. The sad dle 60 is secured to the spring. The handlearms 51 are preferably up-turned, as shown at 61, for raising the outer ends of the hamdle-bars above the top-bar 35, so that the hand of the operator has free movement for operating said handle-arms without interference with the top-bar.

The upper end of the screw-rod is provided with a handle 62, shown as a wing handle, suitably secured to the rod, as by a pin 63.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, there is an upright lever 68 at the end of the machine. This lever is pivoted intermediate of its ends to the upright post 11, as by providing the lever with a bearing 69 and providing a lug-plate 70 having lugs 71 thereon, a pivotpin 72 being received through the bearin ably fixed, as by welding, to the end wall of the end-post 11. A stop 73 is on the lever and contacts the outer lateral wall of the post 11 for ositioning said lever when the topbar is removed.

The lever is provided with a latch 74 having an upper inclined face 7 5. The latch is received in an opening 76 in the end wall 38 of the top-bar. The" lower wall 77 of said opening forms a keeper complemental to the latch for holding one end of the top-bar in down position. This latch is at the u er portion of the lever. The lever is prov1 ed with an upward extension 78 above the latch, the upper end of this upward extension being out-turned, as shown at 79, for providing an upper slanting face for the lever for aiding in assembling the top-bar on the posts.

The lower end of the lever is provided with a pressure portion 81 upon which the operator may manually press for swinging the lever on its pivot and releasing the latch. This pressure portion is shown as a knob which referably extends outwardlylaterally from t e lever and is rigid therewith and is provided with a hollow 82 opening toward the post.

A spring acts between the post and the lever for normally engaging the latch. Thus a spring 83 has its outer end received in the hollow 82, the inner end projecting toward the end post, there being preferably a cup 84, in which the inner end of the spring is received, the cup beinginterposed between the lever and the end-post. The open end of the cup is presented outwardly and the outer portion of the cup is preferably received in the hollow or socket '82 and has endwise movement therein.

At the other end of the machine there is preferably a releasable connection between the upright post at said end and the other end of the top-bar. This is accomplished by providing the outer end 'wallof. said other upright post with a pin 85 referably rigidly secured toosaid outer end Wall, as by upsetting the same therein. The complemental end wall 39 of the top-bar is provided with a hole 86 complemental to said pin. The pin is preferably short so that ready release of the top-bar at said end may be had by moving said end wall outwardly with relation to said end post, said movement being preferably a tipping movement effected in the release of the top-bar.

The end wall 38 of the top-bar is provided with a hole 87 through which the outer end of an endwise movable rod 88 is arranged to project and tobe urged outwardly by-the cam 46 for moving the u per end of the lever 68 outwardly and there y releasing the latch 74. This rod forms a tripper-rod for the latch. Release of the latch may also be effected by g the o erator b manuall ushin u on the and holes in said lugs. The lug-plate is suit- P y y p g p knob 81 for moving the upright lever on its pivot and moving the lower end of the lever toward the post 11, in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the tripper-rod 88 when" releasing said latch. As soon as such release takes lace, whether by operation of the tripper-ro 88 by means of the handle-arm 51, or by inward pushing upon the pressure portion or knob 81, upward tilting movement of the top-bar is caused.

A sprin 91, shown as a spiral spring, is

received a out the tripper rod 88. The innor end of said spring is resisted by a wash or 92 held to said r'od by a pin 93 at one end of said spring, the other end of said spring being resisted for normally moving said tripper-rod inwardly toward the cam 46. The outward movement of said tripper-rod by either lobe of the cam causes release of the latch 74.

its

The tripper-rod slides endwise in bearings 94 in depending flanges 95 of a yoke 96 suitably secured to the upper wall of the top-bar.

Endwise movement of the tripper-rod causes compression of the spring 91, the outer end of the tripper-rod cooperatlng with the upward extension 7 8 of the upright lever I end of'the machine takes place for aiding 111 release of the releasable connection at the other end of the machine, namely, the release of the wall of the hole 86 from the pin 85, whereby the'top-bar is completely separated from the stationary part of the machine.

Such movement is also aided by the upward force applied by the spring 29, and the swivel connection between said spring and the screw-rod, which permits ready tilting movement of the top-bar and aids in ready release of the releasable connection at the other end of the top-bar.

Pressure between the rolls is thus completely released at both ends and throughout the length of the rolls and the reactive movement of the spring 29 causes forceful upward movement of the top-bar, carr 'n the spring 29 with it, and also raising t e earings for the upper roll by the connection of the bails 28 thereof with the respective ends of the spring 29. Complete release of pressure and spacing between the rolls takes place so that the fingers or hand of the operator and undue thickness of goods or other article or part, for instance clothing or hair of the operator, may be withdrawn from between the rolls without injury.

Movement of the releasing cam is effected in either direction at either end and from either side of the machine, and the handlearms extend freely above the top-bar so that the same are free for ready grasping or pushing or pulling by the operator.

I have in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 shown a modification of my improved device in which the latch and keeper are transferred respectively to the top-bar 35 and the upright lever 68. Similar .parts of the latching means are designated by similar reference numerals with the exponent prime In this modification the end wall 38' of the top-bar has a lug 7 4: projecting endwise therefrom, the lug preferably havin a lower sloping end face 7 5'. This lug may struck up from the metal of the end wall or it may be in the form of a pin which is fixed to the end wall. The ,upright' lever 68' is provided with an opening 7 6 iii which the lug is received, the upper wall of the lug bearing upon the upper wall of the opening for latching the top-bar in place. The upper end of the upright lever is provided with an outward curve 79 similar to the outward curve 79 and for a similar purpose. A stop 73' is on the lever.

In assembling my improved device, the upper roll 21 is mounted in its bearings 23, the bails 28 of said bearings being received about the endsof the spring 29 and seated in the grooves 33 therein. The bearings are placed in the channels of the upright posts, the upper roll resting upon the lower roll. The screw-rod 55 is reversely rotated for providing relief of pressurebetween the top-bar and the spring and permitting ready seating of the top-bar upon the end upright posts.

The top-bar is placed upon the end upright posts and tilted for placing the wall of the hole 86 in the endwall 39 about the pin 85. This causes the lower edge of the other end of the top-bar tobe received about the upper end of the other upright post, the lower edge of the end wall 38 of the top-bar resting upon the upper outwardly inclined wall of the upright lever. A sharp blow of the fist upon the upper face of the end of the top-bar adjacent the upright lever causes seating between the latch and the keeper at said end of the top-bar.

This relation of the parts when assembled is shown in the drawings. The lobes of the cam 46 extend at right angles to the handlearms 51, the handle-arms extending lengthwise of the top-bar. The inner end of the tripper-rod preferably contacts the low point of the cam for aiding in maintaining the cam and the handle-arms in their desired neutral or inactive relations.

When now it is desired to release the topbar, for instance, for avoiding accident, either handle-arm is pushed forwardly or pulled rearwardly from either side of the wringer,

whereby one face of one of the cams rides upon the inner end of the tripper-rod for causing the tripper-rod to move axially outward and press upon the lever 68 for releasin the latch 74.

pon release of the latch, either by operation of the handle-arm for operating the tripper-rod or by manual pressing upon the pressure knob 81, the top-bar springs upwardly, due to release of pressure between the rolls 21 and 19, caused by release of pressure of the screw-rod 55 upon the middle portion of the spring 29. The release of the latch causes a tilting movement 'of the top-bar by the action of the middle portion of the spring 29 upon the screw-rod 55 in the middle portion of the top bar for tilting the top-bar, due to momentary resistance of the pin 85 upon the other end of the top-bar.

The tilting movement of the top-bar and the reaction of the quick forceful release thereof, causes disengagement between the end'wall 39 of the top-bar and the pin 85, for releasing the top-bar entirely and permitting upward movement of the entire top-bar.

This upward movement is a quick forceful movement which ordinarily would cause. the top-bar to fly upwardly away from the balance of the wringer frame.

. In order to employ this inertia of motion of the top-bar for further relief of pressure between the wringer-rolls, the bearings of the upper wringer-roll are hung upon the spring 29 which is in turn swiveled to the screw-rod 55, threaded in the rocker-sleeve 450f the cam 46, rotating in the top-bar, whereby the spring, the bearings and the upper roll are moved upwardly for separation between the upper roll and the lower roll.

My improved device is simple in construction, comprises few parts readily assembled, and is extremely eifective in affording quick and instant relief of pressure between the wringer rolls,

I do not herein broadly claim the releasing mechanism connecting with the top-bar, herein shown and described, having shown, described and claimed the same and a species thereof in my said copending application.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a frame comprising a sta-' tionary part including end upright posts, a releasable top-bar between the upper ends of said posts, complemental wringer rolls mounted in said frame, separation between said rolls being normally resisted by said top-bar, and latching means between said stationary part and said top-bar comprising an upright lever havingpivot connection with one of said upright posts, said upright lever located outside said lastnamed upright post and said top-bar and having releasable latch connection with said top-bar, said pivot connection being intermediate of the length of said lever, the lower end of said lever provided with a pressure portion, and spring means having operative connection with said lever normally urging engagement ,in said latch connection.

2. In a device of the character described, the combinationof a frame comprising end upright posts, a top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, depending side walls and depending end walls forming a'hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly as a canopy, said canopy protectingly located above the upper ends of said upright posts, which latter are respectively received in the respectiveends of said hollow, a releasable connection between one Of' said upright posts and one of said end walls, and latching means between the other of said up-.

right posts and the other of said end walls comprising an upright lever pivoted inter-- mediate of its ends to said last-named upright post and having releasable latch consaid rolls being normally resisted by said top- I bar, and latching means between said stationary part and said top-bar comprising an upright lever having pivot connection with one of said upright posts, said upright lever located outside'said last-named upright post and said top-bar and having releasable latch connectio n with said top-bar, said pivot connection being intermediate of the length of I said lever, the lower end of said lever provided with a hollow pressure knob, and a spring in the hollow of said knob between said knob and said upright post arranged for causing normal engagement in said latch connection.

4. In a device of the character described. the combination of a frame comprising end upright posts, a top bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top bar having a top wall, side walls and end walls forming a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively received in the respective. ends of said hollow, a releasable connection between one of said upright posts and one of said end walls, and latching means between the other of said upright posts and the other of said Bend walls comprising an upright lever pivoted intermediate of its ends to said last-named upright post and having releasable latch connection at its upper end with said last-named end wall, the lower end of said lever provided with a hollow pressure knob the hollow of which is presented inwardly, a cup in the hollow of said pressure knob having its open end presented outwardly, and a spring in said hollow and in said cup, the inner end of said cup positioned by said post, and arranged for normally causing engagement in said latch connection.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising end upright posts, a top bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top bar having a top wall, side walls and end walls forming a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upperends of said upright posts respectivelyyreceived'in upright posts and one of said end walls, an

upright lever having pivot connection intermediate of its ends with the other of said end upright posts, a latch connection between the upper end of said upright lever and the other of said end walls, a tripper-rod in said top-bar, manual means on said top-bar for operating said tripper-rod, said tripper-rod having operative connection with said latch connection above said pivot-connection for releasing said latch connection, and a pressure knob at the lower end of said upright lever below said pivot connection, and arranged for release of said latch connection top-bar between said top-bar,

by operation of said tripper-rod and of said pressure knob in opposite directions.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a stationary part including end upright posts, a top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, depending side walls and depending end walls forming a hollow structure as a canopy, the hollow of which is presented downwardly, said canopy rotectingly located above the upper ends 0? said upright posts, which latter are respectively received in the respective ends of said hollow, an upwardly extending latch having connection with said spectively in right posts, said top-bar having a top wall,

depending side' walls and depending end walls forming a hollow structure as a canopy the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends of said upright posts protectingly received under said canopy rethe respective ends of said hollow, complemental wringer rolls mounted in saidframe under said canopy, separation between said rolls being normally resisted by said top-bar, endwise releasable connecting means between one of said upright posts and one of said end walls, and a latch between the other of said upright posts and the other of said end walls, said other of said end walls received between said latch and said other of said upright posts, said last-named end wall provided with a cooperating part cooperating with said latch, and a manual strikerpart for releasing said latch.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GUSTAVE H. JANTZ.

stationary frame part below said top-bar, and one of said end-walls of said top-bar re ceived between said latch and said upright post proximate thereto, said last-named end wall provided with a cooperating part cooperating with said latch, and a manual striker-part arranged for operative connection with said latch for releasing said latch and whereby movement of said last-named end wall is permitted from between said latch and said upright post proximate thereto.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a stationary part including end upright posts, a

the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, depending side walls and depending; end walls forming a hollow structure as a canopy the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively protectingly received under said canopy in hollow, complemental wringer rolls mounted in said frame under said canopy, separation between said rolls being normallyresisted by said top-bar, a latch between said stationary frame .part and one of said end walls of said last-named end wall received between said latch and said upright post proximate thereto, said last-named end wall provided with a cooperating part cooperating with said latch, and a manual striker-part for releasing said latch.

8. In a device of the character described,

, the combination of a frame comprising a the respective ends of said 

